The Estes Valley Fire Protection District Board of Directors voted unanimously on Monday to begin the process of hiring Kevin Nunn as the district’s next fire chief, concluding a months-long search that involved community stakeholders, neighboring agencies, district staff, and board members.
The board approved the recommendation of its chief search committee following interviews with three finalists and a multi-panel evaluation process that included representatives from partner agencies, community members, and district personnel. A fourth finalist withdrew earlier in the process for family reasons.
Board President Sandi Smith outlined the committee’s rationale for recommending Nunn, citing his previous experience as a fire chief, extensive credentials in wildland firefighting and mitigation, strategic planning experience, and strong references.
“His interviews with the public revealed some clear key strengths that we can leverage in the district,” Smith said. “He displayed a key understanding of issues unique to our department and demonstrated an ability to lead with confidence, ask hard questions, and collaborate with others.”
Smith said Nunn’s references consistently described him as a team builder and mentor and praised his ability to develop partnerships and secure public support for funding initiatives.
Board members emphasized that the decision was informed by extensive community involvement.
“I don’t feel like the board made this decision,” board member Ryan Leahy said. “I feel like this decision was made by the community, and we’re just qualifying it.”
Leahy also reflected on the district’s recent leadership transitions.
“We’ve got some experience hiring chiefs,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll have less experience with that and more experience of just having a chief.”
Board members noted that all three finalists brought strong qualifications to the process.
“We have nothing but positive things to say,” said Smith.
Smith stressed the board’s commitment to helping Nunn succeed should contract negotiations be completed.
“We are prepared to do a lot of mentoring and assisting,” Smith said. “The board is very committed to ensuring that he will be brought on board and given every possible chance at success.”
Following the hiring vote, the board appointed Smith and board member Jon “Hippy” Smith to serve on a contract negotiation committee that will work with Nunn to finalize an employment agreement. The appointment was approved by the board without objection.
In other business, the directors approved the May paid bills and received a financial report from its accounting firm that showed strong sales tax revenue collections. The district remains approximately $170,000 below projected property tax collections for the year, but recovered much of a first-quarter shortfall during May.
The board also approved an $80,000 contract with Larimer County Emergency Services’ Phantom Canyon Crew to begin fuels reduction work on 20 acres near Thunder Mountain as part of the district’s 2023 Community Wildfire Defense Grant project.
The work is the first phase of a larger 200-acre wildfire mitigation effort funded through a combination of state grant dollars and local matching funds. District staff said additional contractor bids for the remaining acreage are expected later this summer.
The board entered executive session at the conclusion of the public meeting to receive legal advice and discuss matters related to the fire chief hiring process and contract negotiations.
Estes Valley Fire Protection District finds its new chief in veteran firefighter, author, and wildland leader
Kevin Nunn’s career includes more than three decades of first-responder and fire service experience spanning volunteer, wildland, career, and executive leadership roles across four states.
The 56-year-old Indiana native currently serves as chief of the North Tooele Fire District in Utah, a position he has held since 2022 after relocating from Tennessee. His appointment by the EVFPD board on Monday caps a career that began as a volunteer firefighter in 1990 and evolved into leadership positions in wildfire mitigation, emergency management, and fire administration.
Nunn’s connection to Colorado runs deep. During the public interview last week, he said his parents brought him to Estes Park on family vacations, and since he was 10, he has dreamed of making Estes his home.
Nunn spent part of his early fire service career in Northern Colorado, serving with Larimer County’s Yellow Jackets Type II wildland hand crew, where he rose to the rank of squad boss. His experience in wildfire operations and mitigation was one of the qualities repeatedly highlighted by the EVFPD search committee.
“For my first 12 years in the fire service, I served as a volunteer firefighter in Indiana and Colorado,” Nunn wrote in a professional biography. “I found a love for wildland firefighting and spent five years with the Yellow Jackets.”
After moving to Tennessee, Nunn advanced through the ranks of firefighter, engineer, and lieutenant with the Pigeon Forge Fire Department, located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At the same time, he served six years as volunteer fire chief for the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department.
His wildfire expertise gained national recognition. In 2010, Nunn helped the International Association of Fire Chiefs develop the Ready, Set, Go! wildfire preparedness program as part of a pilot community initiative. In 2019, his Tennessee community received the IAFC Wildfire Mitigation Award.
Before becoming chief in Utah, Nunn also worked as an emergency management specialist at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee.
Nunn holds a Master of Science degree in emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering technology from Purdue University.
Outside the fire service, Nunn is both an avid reader and author. He has written two firefighting-themed novels, “Camp Fire” and “Forgotten Embers,” both available through Amazon.
He is also known for his commitment to firefighter traditions and outdoor recreation, including an annual September hike to the summit of Deseret Peak in Utah with fellow firefighters.
So glad to hear this news. I heard Kevin has dreamed of living in Estes Park since he was a child.